Certifications
Is it worth it, what it costs, how long it takes, and which one to take first.
Certifications · 10 min
The Best Cybersecurity Certifications in 2026, Ranked by Cost per Study Hour
CompTIA Security+ is the best first cybersecurity certification in 2026: $439 and 80-150 study hours buys the credential most often named in analyst job ads. CISSP, at $749 plus five years of experience, is a mid-career purchase and not a starter one.
Updated 16 September 2026
Certifications · 11 min
Which certification has the best ROI per study hour? All 14 ranked
Ranked by annual pay lift per hour of study, the Certified Kubernetes Administrator leads the 14 certifications we track at roughly $149 per study hour, ahead of the PMP at $109 and the AWS Solutions Architect Associate at $93. The CFP trails at about $20.
Updated 16 September 2026
Certifications · 8 min
Google Cybersecurity Certificate vs CompTIA Security+: Which to Take First
Take the Google Cybersecurity Certificate first if you have no IT background - $147-$294 and 132-180 hours buys vocabulary and labs - then sit CompTIA Security+ ($439, 80-150 hours) within three months, because Security+ is the credential job ads actually name.
Updated 16 September 2026
Certifications · 9 min
PMP ROI in 2026: what it costs, what it pays, and how many months to break even
A self-funded PMP costs about $629 to $3,200 all-in after PMI raised the exam to $445 for members and $675 for non-members on 6 August 2026. Against PMI's reported US medians of $135,000 certified versus $109,157, the fees repay in under three weeks.
Updated 16 September 2026